Learn & Teach

Celebrate Culture!

Give Your Voice: Honor Black History

February 8, 2014

Young People's Chorus of New York City, Photo by S. Berger

Back in 1926 when Dr. Carter G. Woodson organized a weeklong celebration of African-American contributions to the history of the United States, he probably never envisioned just how his idea would blossom. Today, Americans of all ethnicities recognize the month of February as a time to honor the bountiful legacy of Black history. Jumpstarting the Museum’s annual Black History celebration is the ever-popular mancala game-playing sessions in the Hall of African Peoples with mancala scholar Alex de Voogt, assistant curator, Division of Anthropology. Hosted by television journalist and fashion model Gail O’Neill, the Museum’s celebration features brilliant artists whose unique voices are helping to define some of this country’s most dynamic cultural expressions: Camille A. Brown & Dancers; composer-pianist Samora Abayomi Pinderhughes; the award-winning Young People’s Chorus of New York City with Francisco J. Núñez, Artistic Director/Founder, The New Orleans Swamp Donkeys Traditional Jass Band; and returning favorites NEA Jazz Master Delfeayo Marsalis with special guest Darryl “DMC” McDan­iels of the multi-platinum hip-hop group Run-DMC.

Support for Global Weekends is provided, in part, by the Sidney, Milton and Leoma Simon Foundation, the May and Samuel Rudin Family Foundation, Inc., the family of Frederick H. Leonhardt, and the Weinig Foundation.

Give Your Voice: Honor Black History is co-presented by Community Works and New Heritage Theatre Group.